Charlie (Restroom Aid)

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Photo by Phoebe Lawson

One of our high school’s bathroom aids, Charlie, has a hidden talent. He is an expert leather craftsman.

Oh, I got interested in [leather work] … 1970. I was disabled and I was sitting home getting fat and fine and somebody told me I needed a hobby and that’s when I took up leather craft. I was at Walt Whitman Mall, and there was a guy at Tandy Leather doing work in the window and he invited me in, that’s how it all started. I bought a kit and I’ve been going ever since, since the 70s. Most of the stuff I give away is from scrap leather so I make things out of it and I give it away. It’s relaxing and I just enjoy it. It keeps me busy and I just – I just enjoy doing it. Like a lot of times, somebody says something, that they like this or something like that, and I’ll make it and I wouldn’t tell them until it’s done and I give it to them – I just give it away.